Suspending binder strip and tab unit for calendars and the like



Dec. 18, 1956 w. DIXON 2,774,161

SUSPENDING BINDER STRIP AND TAB UNIT FOR CALENDARS AND THE LIKE Filed April 8, 1954 j I /7 7 INVENTOR.

[ymarz W 17.436072, BY

* WMMMM SUSPENDING BINDER STRIP AND TAB UNIT FGR CALENDARS AND THE LIKE Lyman W. Dixon, Chicago, iii.

Application Aprii 8, 1954, Serial No. 421,885

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-119) The present invention pertains to improvements in a simple suspending strip and tab unit such as is commonly applied to calendars, maps, and similar flexible sheet articles to mount or bind an upper edge thereof and at the same time afiord means to suspend the article for display. This is ordinarily done by applying a horizontally elongated binding strip or slide to the upper edge of the calendar or other flexible sheet-type article, clamping the strip along with a separate suspending loop, eyelet or apertured tab across the entire length of said edge. The suspending tab is usually fabricated of a very thin, readily flexible metal, such as brass, and in use is bent upwardly 180 from the rear side of the mounted calender, map or like sheet article to provide a central suspending eye therefor.

it has been found that the use of the metal suspending tab or eyelet has the disadvantage that, when the bound article is rolled into tubular form for encasement in a cardboard mailing tube, with the tab extending from the binder strip along the rear surface thereof, it tends to scratch and mar the front surface of the rolled article. The degree of the defacement depends on how tightly the tube is rolled, and it is noticeable when the front surface is of a highly finished or glossy character.

Attempts have been made to overcome this nuisance by winding a paper slip sheet in the roll, in protective overlying relation to the metal tab, also by using a paper tab or eyelet, rather than a metal one. Neither expedient is entirely satisfactory. The paper suspending tab tears readily, especially when applied to an article of.considerable weight, such as a calendar embodying a number of sheets, and the operation 'of positioning a protective slip sheet in rolling the article, simple, as it is, consumes time, with no insurance that the sheet will remain in proper position.

The present invention overcomes the above draw-back by providing a binder strip and apertured tab unit which features a built-in means automatically protecting the bound and rolled article, yet alfords desired suspending strength. Specifically, the unit includes a protective patch or strip of paper or like flexible, non-metallic material, free from sharp edges apt to mar an adjoining surface, which patch is secured in unitary assembly with the usual metal binder strip and thin metal suspending tab. The relationship of the three parts is such that the protective patch externally overlies the rear of the suspending tab. This in turn will be in face engagement with the rear of the bound calendar or other article, the patch being of sufficient size to entirely cover the tab. Thus when the binder unit is applied to and secured in clamped finishing relation to the upper edge of the article, in the usual fashion, the patch is in a position to be interposed between the tab and the front surface of the article, upon rolling of the latter to tubular form. Scratching and marring of that surface is impossible.

The metal suspending tab, paper protective patch and metal binder strip are preferably fixedly secured unitarily rates Patent 2,774,161 Patented --Dec. 18 1956' in the relation described, as by .upsetting the material thereof. In doing this, the tab and patch are positioned in superposed relation against a forwardly and downwardly projecting, upper lip or flange. of the binder strip and secured by punching or offsetting as described tocomplete the unit. The units may be nested in large numbers in this finished form. In applying the same to a calendar, map or the like article, the article is positioned forwardly of the suspending tab and beneath the overhanging lip of the binder strip, wihch is then folded and crimped twice along its length to complete the binding operation.

As an alternative to the production of the binder strip tab and protective patch as .pre-assembled unit, the securement of the protective patch, suspending tab and binder strip may be accomplished at the time of binding the article. However, it is preferable to manufacture and market the unitary strip and protective tab unit as an independent article of manufacture, for subsequent application to a calendar, map or the like.

It is intended that the paper patch be torn away from the bound article after it is unrolled. The thin metal suspending tab or eyelet is then bent'rearwardly andupwardly to suspend above the binder. Accordingly, I further propose that suitable instruction to this effect be imprinted on the protective patch.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention. Other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding. of the construction and use of the improvement.

A single embodiment of the invention is presented herein for purpose of illustration. However the invention may be incorporated in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in rear elevation, partially broken away, of the improved suspending binder strip and tab unit of the invention, showing how a protectivepatch thereof rearwardly overhangs and covers its suspending tab or eyelet;

'Fig. 2'is a view in front elevation, partially broken away, of the unit as it is distributed for use in the binding of'a calendar, map or thelike;

Figs.'3 and 4 are, respectively, views in transversever'tical and longitudinal horizontal section through the unit, along lines corresponding to lines"33 and 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation, partially broken away, showing the unit of the invention as applied to a bound article, represented as a pictorial portion of a calendar, the upturned position of the suspending tab being indicated in dotted line;

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation, as seen from the right of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an end view of the bound article in a rolled, tubular condition.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the improved bending binder strip and tab unit comprises a horizontally elongated binder strip 11 of a thin flexible metal, the upper edge of which strip is bent along its entire length to provide an overhanging, downwardly inclined flange or lip 12. This lip defines a downwardly opening, V-shaped channel 13 across the length of the strip. A second component of the unit 10 is an apertured suspending tab or eyelet 14 of thin, highly flexible brass or the like, and the third component is a rectangular patch 15 of paper or other flexible, preferably non-metallic material oifering no sharp edge. This patch is of greater length and width than tab 14.

In assembling unit 10, protective patch 15 is placed in overlapping relation to the center of strip ll, abutting upper edge of the patch strip in channel 13, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Suspending eyelet 14 is then placed on the protective patch in approximately centered relation to V the edges thereof, and withthe lower end of the tab located well above the corresponding extremity of the paper patch 15, as viewed'in Fig. 2. Thelparts are then secured firmly in this relationship by punching or upsetting, in which small tongues 16 are upset from strip 11, and clinched rearwardly against tab 14.

This completes the assembly of the'improved unit. In associating the same with a sheet unit to be bound, shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and generally designated 17,'the upper edge of unit 17 is disposed in binder channel 13, in cen: tered' relation to binder unit 10, whereupon lip 12 of the binder strip is crimped inwardly in clamping relation thereto along the length thereof, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Strip '11 is then again folded upon itself and pressed or'ironed across its length into the solid line position of Fig. 6. 7 i V The bound unit presents a smooth, attractive and finished upper surface, in which the binding unit has its metal 7 suspending tab 14 and paper patch 15 in longitudinally centered position. The protective patclrdepends substantially below the lower edge of tab 14, so that when the bound unit is rolled to tubular form, as depicted in Fig. 7, the patch is interposed between tab 14 and the adjacent surface of the next convolution of the rolled tube. It receives the scratching or digging action of the tab edge and marring and defacing of the last mentioned surface, usually very noticeable when the later'is glossy or otherwise highly finished, is prevented. When the bound unit is unrolled for hanging, protective patch 15 is torn off in accordance with instructions appearing thereon, as in Fig. 1. Tab 14 is then flexed 180 rearwardly and upwardly to the operative position indicated in dotted line in Fig. 5.

The increase in cost of the improved binder unit over that of a standard suspending binder is, of course, negligible.

' I claim: V

1. An article of manufacture for use in binding, co1nprising a binding strip, a suspending eyelet tab of readily bendable metal disposed in overlapped relation to 'said strip, and a protective patch of flexible, non-metallic material interposed between said strip and tab in overlapped relation to both thereof, said protective patch being dimensioned to substantially overlap the outer end of said tab while being freely and substantially removable out of association with said tab, said strip, patch and tab being secured as a unit to one anoher in the relationship described. 2. An article of manufacture for use in binding, com- 4 prising an elongated binding strip having a longitudinal edge bent throughout to form a lip in acutely inclined relation to the remainder thereof, a suspending eyelet tab of readily bendable metal disposed in overlapped relation to a surface of said strip facing said lip, and 'a protective patch of flexible, non-metallic material interposed between said strip and in overlapping relation to both thereof, said protective patch being upwardly abutted with said lip and being dimensioned to substantially overlap the outer end of said tab and the side edges thereof while being freely and substantially removable out of association with said tab, said strip,-patch and tab being secured as a unit in the relationship described.

3. An article of manufacture for use in binding comprising an elongated binding strip having a longitudinal edge bent throughout to'form a lip in acutely inclined relation to the remainder thereof, a suspending eyelet tab of readily bendable metal disposed in overlapped relation to a surface of said strip facing said lip, a'protective patch of flexible, non-metallic material interposed between said strip and tab in overlapping relation to both thereof,'said protective patch being upwardly abuted with said lip and being dimensioned to substantially overlap the outer end of said tab and the side edges thereof while being freely and substantially removable out of association with said tab, and integral meanssecuring said strip, patch and tab as a unit in the relationship described.

4. A bound article comprising a flexiblesheet adapted to be wound in a tubular roll, and a binder unit applied to an upper edge of said sheet paralleling the axis of said roll, said binder unit comprising an elongated metallic binder strip, a suspending eyelet of thin readily flexible metal, and a protective patch of flexible, non-metallic material, said suspending eyelet and protective patchbeing in superposed relation to one another on the rear surface of said sheet, with said patch disposed outwardly of said eyelet in protective overlapping relation thereto while being freely and substantially. removable out of association therewith, said binder strip being secured to said upper edge of said sheet and holding said eyelet and protective patch in fixed relation to said sheet adjacent said edge. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Winford Ian. 27, 1953 

